APL takes slots on Far East – Gulf service

Effective at the beginning of May, APL will be allocated some space on OOCL’s and Coscon vessels trading on the two carriers’ joint loop between North China and the Middle East Gulf (OOCL’s ‘MAX’, Coscon’s ‘MEX’).

The two operators have thus found a quick replacement for Evergreen which is to stop buying slots at the end of April. Despite Evergreen’s departure from the service, the loop’s capacity is currently in the process of being slightly increased, with Coscon replacing its 8,200 teu units with 10,000 teu vessels, whereas the OOCL fleet is likely to remain unaltered for the time being.

APL’s slot-buying will first start with the sailing of the OOCL EUROPE, departing Shanghai on 29 April. For APL, the service adds to two loops in the trade on which the Singaore-based carrier deploys own tonnage. Both of these are offered in cooperation with MOL.